The senator from Tennessee the honorable Lamar Alexander. Our. Tanner Tennessee. Co chairing a congressional committee overseeing overseeing Mr. President mr. vice president. Ladies and gentlemen. The -- Alex Haley the author of roots. Lived his life by these six words. Find the good. And -- Today we praise. The American tradition. Of transferring. Or -- -- -- -- power. In the inauguration. Of the president of the United States. We do this in a peaceful. Orderly way. There is no -- No clue. No insurrection. This is a moment when millions. Stop and watch. A moment most of us always. Will remember. It is a moment. That is our most conspicuous. And enduring symbol. Of the American democracy. How remarkable that this has survived. For so long. In such a complex country. When so much power is at stake. This freedom to vote for our leaders. And the restraint. To respect. The results. Last year at Mount Vernon. A tour guide told me that our first president. George Washington. Once posed this question. What is most important Washington ask of this grand Experian -- -- the United States. And then Washington answered his own question in this way. Not the election of the first president. But the election of its second press. The peaceful transfer of power. Is what will separate our country from every other country. In the world. So today we celebrate. The 57. Inauguration. Of the American president. Find the good. And praise. Now it is my honor and.

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